Replies

1. 
   mrfixitusa | Aug 01, 2008 02:35am | #1

   Also, if the A-Coil drain becomes plugged and moisture drips into the ductwork, will you experience mold and mildew?

1. 
   BillHartmann | Aug 01, 2008 03:03am | #2

   If there is any kind of organic material it can.And there are usuually enough "dust" and other junk in them to be food..
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

1. 
   mrfixitusa | Aug 01, 2008 03:07am | #3

   thanks Bill I wonder how much of a problem this is in houses with crawl spaces, for example, where people can't visually inspect their ductwork.

1. 
   Clewless1 | Aug 01, 2008 06:47am | #4

   It is an important maintenance item to ensure that the condensate drain is always open and draining. Bad news to allow the moisture to be introduced into the ductwork. Out of sight, out of mind ... doesn't foster good maintenance. The drain can plug for many reasons ... bugs and debris. Long periods w/ no use may cause it to plug (allowing bugs or sludge to accumulate).

1. 
   mrfixitusa | Aug 01, 2008 01:49pm | #5

   Do you have any experience with duct cleaning?Around here they charge about $150 for a medium sized house.

2. 
   Clewless1 | Aug 01, 2008 03:08pm | #6

   No, I don't. $150 seems maybe too little ... you can hardly call someone out on site for that kind of money (maybe you meant $1,500?), let alone clean ducts after they get there. Is all your ducting rigid? Duct cleaning can be one of those trades that is often 'scammed' ... maybe not deliberately, but a lot of businesses that often can't really do the work.

   I'd ask them questions about how they do it. Do they adhere to industry standards ... and specifically what standards ... then look those standards up. Also get some references. Maybe you just need some cleaning in part of the duct work near the coil (as opposed to the entire length of duct)(maybe that's what you meant ... $150 to clean that section up ... still seems cheap).

   Do you have good access to the air handling unit (it's in your crawlspace, right?) and ability to easily disconnect the duct after the coil ... coming out of the unit? Can you inspect both sides of the coil? If so, I'd recommend you do your own reality check and take a look see. If you don't have a way to inspect both side ... consider creating a way ... you could cut in an inspection panel(s) that you replace w/ screws or whatever ... standard kind of thing for commercial equipment.

2. 
   DanH | Aug 01, 2008 05:04pm | #7

   Moisture from the A coil can get into the ductwork due to blowing mist or a plugged drain, but it won't get very far. Since the air in the supply duct is fairly "dry" any moisture evaporates reasonably quickly.

   There is some potential for mold growth, but it would be a significant issue only if a plugged drain were ignored for a considerable period of time, and even then there's so little "food" for the mold that it's not likely to cause serious problems. There are many other areas in the typical home (bathrooms, leaky windows, etc) far more likely to create mold issues.

   It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way. --Rollo May
1. 
   mrfixitusa | Aug 01, 2008 05:19pm | #8

   Thanks Dan, I wondered if the frequent air blowing through the system would dry things out.I'm kicking around the idea of having the ducts cleaned in my house.And yes, the fee is only $150 for all ductwork. It's done through Sears home improvements.I'm not aware of any mold or mildew issues but I was thinking my son has experienced a lot of allergy symptoms this year and this might be a cause.I don't know I'm just thinking.I do smell mildew at times.It's not a strong smell, like you experience when you walk into a truck stop restroom, but I do smell kind of a faint mildew smell in the houseThanks again to everyone for their input.

2. 
   mrfixitusa | Aug 03, 2008 02:10am | #9

   What can a DIY do make the air coming from the air ducts to smell clean and fresh?

1. 
   DanH | Aug 03, 2008 05:48am | #10

   Tie one of those pine tree things to the grate.
   It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way. --Rollo May